Fluid imbalance

Water imbalance; Fluid imbalance - dehydration; Fluid buildup; Fluid overload; Volume overload; Loss of fluids; Edema - fluid imbalance; Hyponatremia - fluid imbalance; Hypernatremia - fluid imbalance; Hypokalemia - fluid imbalance; Hyperkalemia - fluid imbalance

Your body is constantly losing water through breathing, sweating, and urinating. If you do not take in enough fluids or water, you become dehydrated.

Your body may also have a hard time getting rid of fluids. As a result, excess fluid builds up in the body. This is called fluid overload (volume overload). This can lead to edema (excess fluid in the skin and tissues).

Many medical problems can cause fluid imbalance:

• After surgery, the body usually retains large amounts of fluid for several days, causing swelling of the body.
• In heart failure, fluid collects in the lungs, liver, blood vessels, and body tissues because the heart does a poor job of pumping it to the kidneys.
• When the kidneys do not work well because of chronic kidney disease, the body cannot get rid of unneeded fluids.
• The body may lose too much fluid due to diarrhea, vomiting, severe blood loss, or high fever.
• Lack of a hormone called antidiuretic hormone (ADH) can cause the kidneys to get rid of too much fluid. This results in extreme thirst and dehydration.

Often, a high or low level of sodium or potassium is present as well.

Medicines can also affect fluid balance. The most common are water pills (diuretics) to treat blood pressure.

Treatment depends on the specific condition that is causing the fluid imbalance.

Call your health care provider if you or your child has signs of dehydration or swelling, in order to prevent more serious complications.